A Labour MP has warned that Britain's dying high streets could be left as "ruins for archaeologists to dig up" unless public money is pumped into restoring them.
Sam Rushworth claimed abandoned department stores are being turned into scenes straight out of a disaster movie, with huge empty buildings falling apart in once-thriving town centres. Speaking at a Labour conference fringe event in Liverpool, the Bishop Auckland MP painted a grim picture of high street demise, revealing that around one in three shop units in his own North East constituency are currently boarded up.
He warned that without direct government taxpayer intervention to bridge huge funding gaps, historic buildings could end up looking like ancient cathedrals.
'Like a scene from The Walking Dead'
Detailing the decay of a flagship 100-year-old former Co-op department store in his town, Rushworth said: "If you go inside it's like a scene from The Walking Dead. It's got indoor waterfalls and it's falling apart."
Despite having two national hotel chains interested in taking over the upper floors and 100 local market traders ready to set up shop, the MP said private investors are spooked by the numbers. He added that renovating the site would cost £12 million, but the finished building would only be worth £8 million.
"That's a decision that the public has to take," Rushworth said. "Are we willing to commit taxpayers' money to saving some of these buildings and bringing them back into use? Or shall we, like many old castles and cathedrals, allow them to turn into ruins that future generations could visit and archaeologists could dig up."
Consumers 'voted with their feet'
The MP admitted that consumers have voted with their feet, ditching traditional town centres for the convenience of out-of-town retail parks, free parking and next-day online deliveries from giants like Amazon. He urged local councils to thin out worthless modern units and focus on repurposing sturdy listed buildings into town-centre housing.
It comes as hospitality bosses warned that UK high street businesses are being strangled by higher fixed costs and tax rates compared to the rest of Europe. Beth Miller, head of public affairs at Deliveroo, revealed that local traders are struggling to survive under the weight of UK tax laws.
She said: "The VAT in the UK is 20 per cent, but the European average on hospitality is 12.8 per cent, so we are really out of sync with the rest of Europe. That combined with the challenge of business rates makes it a really difficult environment for businesses to sustain themselves."
Business rates review underway
Ministers are currently reviewing how business rates are calculated across England and Wales to build a "fairer system" for struggling pubs and hoteliers. Expert Jerry Schurder is spearheading a Treasury evaluation into rate valuations, which will take evidence from landlords and shop owners before reporting back in March 2027.
Financial Secretary to the Treasury James Murray promised the review would offer a complete "rethink" for battered businesses. Meanwhile, a 20 per cent business rates slash for social clubs, live music venues and pubs in England will kick in from next April.
Further details on which businesses qualify for discounts are set to be unveiled by Chancellor John Healey in the upcoming Budget on October 28.
